Acknowledgements

2. National Science Foundation • Partnership for Innovation (PFI) • Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) • Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) • Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) • Department of Education • Fund for Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) • Arkansas Science and Technology Authority • University of Arkansas Acknowledgements Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

3. Elements of Entrepreneurial Climate • Entrepreneurial path • Innovation Incubator Attributes • Innovation Incubator Client Selection • Competing for major companies • Educational opportunities • Quality of Life discussions • Business climate in NW Arkansas • State base financial incentives • Climate for startup support industry • Infrastructure and labor force Agenda Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

4. Five elements contributing to improvement • Establishment of Technology Business Incubator (Genesis at Engineering Research Center) • Establishment of centers of coordinated research activities (HiDEC, MRSEC C-SPIN, CSTAR, etc) • Establishment of entrepreneurial elements in degree program (MGMT 5383 Entrepreneurship of Technology – microEP Graduate Program) • Establishment of research linkages with businesses (Innovation Incubator, Space Photonics, etc) • Demonstration of the will to compete for major high technology players Improvement of Entrepreneurial Culture Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

5. Successful Technology Startup Company Arkansas Small Business Research and Individual Inventors Technology Park Client Genesis Technology Incubator Genesis Technology Incubator Research Commercialization Process at U of A Company Formation NSF PFI Innovation Incubator NSF PFI Innovation Incubator microEP Grad Program (entrepreneurial technical degrees) Research on Campus Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

6. Dedicated full time director from industry (funded by NSF PFI and Dept of Ed FIPSE) • Funding for 12 month graduate students reporting to the I^2 Director (NSF PFI) • $10k voucher for I^2 proof of concept research client expenditures on campus (NSF PFI) • Administrative support through entrepreneurial programs (microEP and NSF IGERT) • I^2 client selection process run by stakeholder board Attributes of the U of A Innovation Incubator (I^2) Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

7. I2 Selection Panel Reviews Ideas ASTA Business Network Project Selection Idea 1 Idea Passes Proof of Concept Four Ideas Per Year Receive Vouchers Idea 2 I2Innovation Table Commercialization Support Idea n Open Discussion Genesis I2 Board of Directors Sets Selection Criteria ACTT HiDEC Processing MBE Lab I2 Faculty Business Admin Research Thesis Analytical Tests SBIR Faculty Research ASTA Innovation Incubator Client Selection Process Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

8. Partnership between • University of Arkansas (education) • City of Fayetteville (Quality of Life) • NWA Region (business climate) • State of Arkansas (financial incentives) • All (support industry entrepreneurism) • All (infrastructure and labor force) Competing for Major Technology Industry Sites Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

9. Its liberal arts and land-grant mission: teaching, research, and service • Research and scholarship - based teaching and learning • Public service and service based learning • Diversity – Faculty, students, and staff • Seeking excellence • Partnering with leading companies for mutual benefit A nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the World Promoting the University of Arkansas as Resource Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

10. A Historic City with a Wealth of Opportunity and Character • Walton Arts Center • Concerts • theater productions • art exhibits • Dickson Street • Food • Shopping • Nightlife • The Square • Farmers Market • Springfest • Autumnfest • Lights of the Ozarks Promoting Fayetteville Quality of Life Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

11. Wal-Mart Headquarters J.B. Hunt Headquarters NWA Regional Airport-XNA Tyson Foods Headquarters 1. Research & Tech Park University of Arkansas Promoting NWA Region -Regional Key Facilities 4. Marinoni site 2. Greenwood site 3. Jordan site 5. Cummings site Drake Field Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

12. Northwest Arkansas is home to an entrepreneurial spirit epitomized by the emergence of: Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer Tyson, the leading producer of poultry and food products in the world J.B. Hunt Trucking, a leading trucking and logistics innovator in the United States Corporate growth has been managed in partnership with community governments to retain high quality of life The Northwest Arkansas Council leads regional strategic planning to assure both future economic growth and continued quality of life in the region The regional business community would welcome another international business segment to NWA Promoting NWA Industry - Government Partnerships Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

13. Arkansas Economic Development Act • Arkansas Corporate Income Tax Credits up to 100% of the total amount of the project investment, negotiated each year in accordance with wage schedule. • 100% refund if average hourly rate exceeds $21.11. • Subject to terms of financial agreement executed prior to construction. • Sales and Use Tax Refunds on building materials and on all taxable purchases of machinery and equipment during the period specified by financial agreement (5.125% rate). • Using company supplied estimates of expenditures, refunds of (proprietary information removed from this location). Incentive Package: Option 1 Promoting Financial Incentives Package Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

14. Research as the State’s Economic Engine • Campus research in HiDEC and Physics • Innovation Incubator • Tech Transfer Office • Genesis Technology Business Incubator • Technology Business Park clients for ERC • Major Industry as research partners • Capitalization through local and state initiatives • University/City/State partnerships for success Promoting an Established Path for Tech Startups Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

15. Recruitment Through • Alumni Interest • Trained in industry • Interested in home • Current graduates • All regional schools Retention Through • History and Tradition • Senior Walk • Ozark lifestyle • Museums and societies • Progress into Future • Town Center • Large town shopping • Patio on the Square • Proactive Education • FHS AP success • NSF centers at UA • Regional partnerships Promoting Labor Force Stability in Fayetteville Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

16. Developing new entrepreneurial cultures • Dedicated and passionate leaders • Education of the residents in the culture • Opportunities to put ideas into action • Support of governmental bodies • Extra support of early role models • Good linkages between all partners • Belief that success is the expected outcome, not the unusual event In Conclusion Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

17. Backup Slides – Ariel View of Research and Tech Park Site Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

18. Backup Slide – Topo View of Research & Tech Park Site Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

19. Backup Slide – Ground View of Research & Tech Park Site Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference

20. Backup Slide – Soils View of Research & Tech Park Site Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference